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United States Patent |
6,266,397
|
Stoner
|
July 24, 2001
|
Interfacing device to be used with a telephone system terminal for
transmitting extended station information to a public safety answering
point
Abstract
A method or apparatus to be used with a telephone system, such as a private
branch exchange (PBX) trunk, for transmitting extended station information
to an emergency call handling center, such as a public safety answering
point (PSAP). The apparatus has a central processing unit (CPU) which is
connected a PBX interface, a memory database, a first loop interface, and
a second loop interface. The PBX interface is connected to the PBX trunk
and receives an emergency call from a specified station which initiated
the emergency call. The memory database stores information on the
plurality of extension stations within a facility. The first loop
interface is connected to the PSAP. The second loop interface is also
connected to the PSAP. The CPU connects the audio of the emergency call to
the first loop interface which in turn transmits the audio to the PSAP.
The CPU searches the memory database for information about the specified
station which initiated the emergency call, whereby the CPU sends extended
station information to the PSAP over the second loop interface while
maintaining contact between the specified station which initiated the
emergency phone call and the PSAP.
Inventors:
|
Stoner; David M. (619 Doepke La., Cincinnati, OH 45231)
|
Appl. No.:
|
259535 |
Filed:
|
March 1, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
379/45; 379/37; 379/93.07 |
Intern'l Class: |
H04M 011/00 |
Field of Search: |
379/45,37,38,39,49,93.07,93.14,93.17,93.23
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4873718 | Oct., 1989 | Barnett et al. | 379/156.
|
5161180 | Nov., 1992 | Chavous | 379/45.
|
5222124 | Jun., 1993 | Castaneda et al. | 379/269.
|
5235630 | Aug., 1993 | Moody et al. | 379/45.
|
5339351 | Aug., 1994 | Hoskinson et al. | 379/45.
|
5347567 | Sep., 1994 | Moody et al. | 379/45.
|
5347568 | Sep., 1994 | Moody et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Woo; Stella
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rozsa; Thomas I., Chen; Tony D., Fong; Jerry
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An interfacing device for connecting a telephone system to a call
handling center which is in turn connected to at least one public safety
answering point (PSAP) for providing information, the telephone system
servicing a plurality of extension stations within a local facility, the
interfacing device comprising:
a. PBX interface means for connecting to said telephone system and
receiving an emergency phone call from a specified one of said plurality
of extension stations which initiated the emergency phone call;
b. a display unit for displaying information about said specified one of
said plurality of extension stations which initiated the emergency phone
call;
c. memory means for storing information on said plurality of extension
stations within the local facility;
d. 1.sup.st loop interface means having a 1.sup.st loop connection for
connecting to said call handling center;
e. 2.sup.nd loop interface means having a 2.sup.nd loop connection for also
connecting to said call handling center;
f. a central processing unit (CPU) connected to said PBX interface means,
said display unit, said memory means, said 1.sup.st loop interface means
and said 2.sup.nd loop interface means, and performing sequential logical
operations;
g. said CPU connecting the audio of the emergency phone call to said
1.sup.st loop interface means which in turn transmits the audio through
said call handling center to said at least one PSAP through said 1.sup.st
loop connection; and
h. said CPU displayed the origin of said specified one of said plurality of
extension stations which initiated the emergency phone call on said
display unit while searching said memory means for information about said
specified one of said plurality of extension stations, said CPU sends the
extended station information through said call handling center to said at
least one PSAP over a modem which is in turn connected to said 2.sup.nd
loop interface means while maintaining contact between said specified one
of said plurality of extension stations which initiated the emergency
phone call and said at least one PSAP;
i. whereby when the emergency phone call is initiated from said specified
one of said plurality of extension stations within said telephone system
in the local facility, the interfacing device can transmit extended
station information of the extension station through said call handling
center to said at least one PSAP, and also alert on-site personnel or
security staff in the local facility that an emergency phone call has been
initiated by one of the extension stations within the facility at the
inception of the call.
2. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a
power supply for supplying power to the interfacing device.
3. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a
handset for interfacing with the emergency phone call.
4. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising
alarm means connected to said CPU which activates the alarm means for
notifying the on-site personnel or security staff at the local facility
that an emergency phone call has been initiated.
5. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 4, further comprising
relay drivers connected to said CPU for activating or deactivating relays
which control said PBX interface means, said 1.sup.st loop interface
means, and said 2.sup.nd loop interface means and said alarm means.
6. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said PBX
interface means includes a T&R loop trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and
"R" terminals.
7. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the emergency
phone call begins by seizure of said T&R loop trunk circuit by said PBX
trunk.
8. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said PBX
interface means includes an E&M tie trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and
"R" terminals and a pair of "M" and "E" terminals.
9. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the emergency
phone call begins when said telephone system grounds the "E" terminal if
input is the E&M tie trunk circuit.
10. An interfacing device for connecting a telephone system to a call
handling center which is in turn connected to at least one public safety
answering point (PSAP), the telephone system servicing a plurality of
extension stations within a local facility, the interfacing device
comprising:
a. PBX interface means for connecting to said telephone system and
receiving an emergency call from a specified one of said plurality of
extension stations which initiated the emergency call;
b. memory means for storing information on said plurality of extension
stations within the local facility;
c. first interface means for connecting to said call handling center;
d. second interface means for also connecting to said call handling center;
e. a central processing unit (CPU) connected to said PBX interface means,
said memory means, said first interface means and said second interface
means, and performing sequential logical operations;
f. said CPU connecting the audio of the emergency call to said first
interface means which in turn transmits the audio through said call
handling center to said at least one PSAP; and
g. said CPU searching said memory means for information about said
specified one of said plurality of extension stations which initiated the
emergency call, said CPU sends the extended station information through
said call handling center to said at least one PSAP over transmitting
means which is in turn connected to said second interface means while
maintaining contact between said specified one of said plurality of
extension stations which initiated the emergency phone call and said at
least one PSAP;
h. whereby when the emergency call is initiated from said specified one of
said plurality of extension stations within said telephone system in the
local facility, the interfacing device can transmit extended station
information of the extension station through said call handling center to
said at least one PSAP, and also alert on-site personnel or security staff
in the local facility that an emergency phone call has been initiated by
one of the extension stations within the facility at the inception of the
call.
11. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising
a display unit for displaying the extended station information about said
specified one of said plurality of extension stations which initiated the
emergency phone call.
12. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said CPU
displayed the origin of said specified one of said plurality of extension
stations which initiated the emergency phone call on said display unit.
13. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising
a power supply for supplying power to the interfacing device.
14. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising
a handset for interfacing with the emergency phone call.
15. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising
alarm means connected to said CPU which activates the alarm means for
notifying the on-site personnel or security staff at the local facility
that an emergency phone call has been initiated.
16. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 15, further comprising
relay drivers connected to said CPU for activating or deactivating relays
which control said PBX interface means, said 1.sup.st loop interface
means, and said 2.sup.nd loop interface means and said alarm means.
17. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said PBX
interface means includes a T&R loop trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and
"R" terminals.
18. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the
emergency phone call begins by seizure of said T&R loop trunk circuit by
said PBX trunk.
19. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said PBX
interface means includes an E&M tie trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and
"R" terminals and a pair of "M" and "E" terminals.
20. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the
emergency phone call begins when said telephone system grounds the "E"
terminal if input is the E&M tie trunk circuit.
21. The interfacing device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said
transmitting means includes a modem.
22. An apparatus for connecting a telephone system to a call handling
center which is in turn connected to at least one public safety answering
point (PSAP), the telephone system servicing a plurality of extension
stations within a facility, the apparatus comprising:
a. means for sensing and receiving an emergency call from a specified
station within said telephone system, which initiated the emergency call;
b. means for storing extended station information about said plurality of
extension stations within said telephone system;
c. means for transmitting said emergency call from said specified station
through said call handling center to said at least one PSAP;
d. controller means searching said storing means for the extended station
information about said specified station, and transmitting the extended
station information of said specified station through said call handling
center to said at least one PSAP from second transmitting means while
maintaining contact between said specified station, which initiated the
emergency call and said at least one PSAP; and
e. said second transmitting means including a modem and a second loop
interface having a second loop connection for connecting to said call
handling center;
f. whereby when an emergency call is initiated from said specified station
within said telephone system in the facility, the apparatus can transmit
the extended station information through said call handling center to said
at least one PSAP, and also alert on-site personnel or security staff in
the facility that an emergency call has been initiated by one of the
extension stations within the facility at the inception of the call.
23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22, further comprising a display
unit for displaying said extended station information about said specified
station which initiated the emergency call.
24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said controller
means displaying the origin of said specified station which initiated the
emergency call on said display unit.
25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22, further comprising alarm
means activated by said controller means for notifying the on-site
personnel or security staff at the facility that an emergency call has
been initiated.
26. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said sensing and
receiving means includes a PBX interface.
27. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said PBX interface
includes a T&R loop trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and "R" terminals.
28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein the emergency call
begins by seizure of said T&R loop trunk circuit by said telephone system.
29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said PBX interface
includes an E&M tie trunk circuit having a pair of "T" and "R" terminals
and a pair of "M" and "E" terminals.
30. The apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein the emergency call
begins when said telephone system grounds the "E" terminal if input is the
E&M tie trunk circuit.
31. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said storing means
includes a memory database.
32. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said first
transmitting means includes a first loop interface having a first loop
connection for connecting to said call handling center.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of modem
telecommunication technologies and devices. More particularly, the present
invention relates to the field of interfacing devices to be used with a
telephone system terminal for transmitting information to a telephone
provider's central office which is in turn connected to one or more public
safety answering points (PSAPs).
2. Description of the Prior Art
In many cities and communities, public safety answering points (PSAPs) have
been established to answer emergency phone calls. In an emergency
situation, a caller from the emergency spot places an emergency phone call
through the telephone system and the emergency phone call will be routed
to a PSAP. Currently most telephone systems have the function of
identifying the emergency telephone number to the PSAP so that the PSAP
can locate the emergency spot and provide quick response.
In many business establishments such as a large company, hotels, department
stores, etc., private branch exchange (PBX) systems are used which handle
many extension telephone stations. This poses a problem for identifying
the exact emergency location within such business establishment. With the
current telephone systems, when an emergency phone call is placed from an
extension station within a PBX system, the phone call can be routed to a
PSAP.
However, since the phone call from the extension station passes through the
PBX system first, the PSAP will only know the identification of the PBX
system without knowing the particular extension stations. As a result,
when the emergency personnel arrive at the business establishment, they
are often at a loss as to where exactly the emergency location is and they
have to search through many offices in the office building or many suites
in the hotel or many floors in the department store.
Therefore, there is a need in the telephone network and emergency response
network to provide further identification of the extension station within
a PBX system from which an emergency phone call is made.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,568 issued to Moody et al. on Sep. 13, 1994 for
"Emergency Call Station Identification System" discloses a device for
identifying a specific station, among a plurality of
geographically-dispersed stations represented by a common telephone number
and serviced by a common PBX, which has initiated an emergency "9-1-1"
telephone call. The device can identify the specific station which
initiated the emergency "9-1-1" telephone call to the appropriate PSAP
which is connected to an enhanced "9-1-1" emergency call network. The
device has functions to convert the protocol of the PBX to the protocol of
the emergency call network. It also assigns an arbitrary designation
representing the specific station which initiated the emergency phone
call.
In many emergency situations, simply identifying the extension station from
which an emergency phone call is made is insufficient. For example, it is
also desirable for the emergency crew to know where the extension station
is located, directions to that particular location, etc.
In addition, it is also desirable for the on-site management personnel or
the security staff to be alerted as well when an emergency phone call was
made by one of the extension stations of the PBX system.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide an interfacing device to be
used with a telephone system for translating extended station information
to one or more PSAP.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and emergency interfacing device to be
used with a telephone system terminal, such as a private branch exchange
(PBX) trunk, for transmitting extended station information to an emergency
call handling center, such as a public safety answering point (PSAP).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency
interfacing device connected between a telephone system terminal and a
telephone provider's central office for transmitting extended station
information during an emergency situation to one or more PSAPs.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an emergency
interfacing device to alert on-site management personnel or security staff
in the local facility that an emergency phone call has been made by one of
the extension stations within the facility at the inception of the call,
and to provide information about the extension station from which the
emergency phone call is made.
Described generally, the present invention is an interfacing device
connected between a telephone system terminal and a telephone provider's
central office which in turn is connected to one or more PSAPs, wherein
the telephone system terminal services a plurality of extension stations
within a local facility.
The present invention interfacing device includes a PBX interface means for
connecting to the telephone system terminal and receiving an emergency
call from a specified one of the plurality of extension stations which
initiated the emergency call. The interfacing device also includes a
memory means for storing information of the plurality of extension
stations within the local facility. The interfacing device further
includes a first interface means and a second interface means both
connected to the telephone provider's central office.
At the heart of the present invention interfacing device is a central
processing unit (CPU), which is connected to the PBX interface means, the
memory means, the first interface means and the second interface means.
The CPU performs sequential logical operations. It connects the audio
signal of the emergency call to the first interface means which in turn
transmits the audio signal to the central office which in turn transmits
to one or more PSAPs. Meanwhile, the CPU searches the memory means for
information about the specified one of the plurality of extension stations
which initiated the emergency call. The CPU then sends the extended
station information to the central office over the second interface means,
while maintaining contact between the specified one of the plurality of
extension stations which initiated the emergency phone call and the
central office through the first interface means.
Basically, when an emergency call is initiated from one of the plurality of
extension stations within a telephone system terminal in the local
facility, the present invention interfacing device can transmit extended
station information of the extension station to a central office which in
turn transmits to one or more PSAPs, and also alert on-site personnel or
security staff in the local facility that an emergency phone call has been
initiated by one of the extension stations within the facility at the
inception of the call.
The present invention has many unique features and advantages. It can
provide not only the identity of the extension station within a telephone
system that made the emergency phone call but also other vital information
about the emergency situation, such as the location of the extension
station, direction to that location, physical description of the location,
etc. It can also alert at the inception of the emergency phone call the
on-site management personnel or security staff of the same information so
that immediate response can be made and further assistance to the
emergency personnel can be provided. Where the PBX serves a large site,
the device, due to stored information unique to each extension of the PBX
can provide the information to the PSAP which they would need to direct
responding emergency people to different entry points to the site. If the
site is large enough to cover more than one political area resulting in
service by more than one PSAP, it can direct calls to the PSAP specific to
the specific station originating the emergency call.
The present invention can be part of a manufactured telephone system.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and
the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only
and not limitation, there is illustrated:
FIG. 1 is an illustrative block diagram showing the arrangement of the
present invention emergency interfacing device connected between a private
branch exchange (PBX) trunk and a telephone provider's central office
which is in turn connected to one or more public safety answering points
(PSAPs);
FIG. 2 is an illustrative block diagram showing the basic components of the
present invention emergency interfacing device connected between a PBX
trunk and a PSAP;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative circuitry diagram showing one embodiment of a PBX
interface of the present invention emergency interfacing device connected
to a PBX loop trunk with a pair of "T" and "R" terminals;
FIG. 4 is an illustrative circuitry diagram showing another embodiment of a
PBX interface of the present invention emergency interfacing device
connected to a PBX E&M tie trunk with a pair of "T" and "R" terminals and
a pair of "M and E" terminals;
FIG. 5 is an illustrative circuitry diagram showing one embodiment of the
present invention emergency interfacing device, with relay drivers
identified;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that
such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but
a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can
represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various
changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the
present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and
contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended
claims.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an emergency interfacing
device which is connected between a private branch exchange (PBX) trunk
through a central office to a public safety answering point (PSAP). The
purpose of the present invention is not only to provide extended station
information of the extension station within a PBX system from which an
emergency phone call is made, but also to alert the on-site management
personnel or security staff at the inception of the emergency phone call
so that immediate response can be made and further assistance to the
emergency personnel can be provided by the on-site management personnel or
security staff.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustrative block diagram showing
one preferred arrangement of the present invention emergency interfacing
device 10. The emergency interfacing device 10 is connected to a telephone
system terminal such as a PBX trunk 12, a power supply 16, and an alarm
18. The interfacing device 10 also has connections which are connected to
miscellaneous devices 20 and 21 such as facsimile machines, credit card
machines, etc. One of the unique features of the present invention
interfacing device 10 is that it has two loop connections connected to a
telephone provider's central office 14 which is in turn connected to one
or more PSAPs 15: the 1.sup.st loop connection has an "IN" terminal 22
connected to the central office 14 and an "OUT" terminal 24 connected to
the first miscellaneous devices 20, and the 2.sup.nd loop connection also
has an "IN" terminal 26 connected to the central office 14 and an "OUT"
terminal 28 connected to the second miscellaneous devices 20. The purpose
and advantages of this arrangement will be discussed in detail below.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an illustrative block diagram showing
the basic components of the present invention emergency interfacing device
10. The interfacing device 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 30,
a PBX interface 32, a memory database 34, a display unit 36, a handset 38,
a 1.sup.st loop interface 40, and a 2.sup.nd loop interface 42. The CPU 30
has connections which are connected to the PBX interface 32, the memory
database 34, the display unit 36, the handset 38, the 1.sup.st loop
interface 40, and the 2.sup.nd loop interface 42 as shown.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an illustrative circuitry diagram
showing one embodiment of the PBX interface 32 which is a T&R loop trunk
circuit of the present invention emergency interfacing device, where the
PBX interface 32 is connected to the PBX trunk 12 with a pair of "T" and
"R" terminals. The "T" terminal is for tip, and the "R" terminal is for
ring.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an illustrative circuitry diagram
showing another embodiment of the PBX interface 132 which is an E&M tie
trunk circuit of the present invention emergency interfacing device, where
the PBX interface 132 is connected to the PBX trunk 12 with a pair of "T"
and "R" terminals and a pair of "M" and "E" terminals. The "T" terminal is
for tip, and the "R" terminal is for ring, while the "M" and "E"
terminals, on the other hand, are control terminals. The "E" terminal of
the PBX trunk 12 connects to the "M" terminal of the PBX interface 132,
where the "E" terminal receives while the "M" terminal transmits. The "M"
terminal of the PBX trunk 12 connects to the "E" terminal of the PBX
interface 132, where the "M" terminal transmits while the "E" terminal
receives.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an illustrative circuitry diagram
showing one embodiment of the present invention emergency interfacing
device, with relay drivers 48 identified. The CPU 30 is further connected
to a modem 44 and the relay drivers 48. The CPU 30 controls the relay
drivers 48 which in turn activate or deactivate relays KQ, KK, KL, KT and
other relays, which in turn control auxiliary alarm contacts 46, the alarm
18, the PBX interface 32, and the 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd loop interfaces 40
and 42.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, an emergency phone call begins by
seizure of the T&R loop circuit by the PBX trunk 12 (see FIG. 3) or the
PBX trunk 12 grounds "E" terminal if input is the E&M tie trunk circuit
(see FIG. 4). The PBX interface 32 detects the incoming emergency phone
call and notifies the CPU 30 that an emergency phone call is being made.
The CPU 30 preforms sequential logical operations. The CPU 30 disconnects
the loads such as the miscellaneous devices 20 and 21 from the 1.sup.st
loop interlace 40 and the 2.sup.nd loop interface 42. The CPU 30 connects
the audio transmission of the emergency phone call from the extension
station through the 1.sup.st loop interface 40, which in turn is connected
to the telephone provider's central office 14 and subsequently to one or
more PSAPs 15 through the "IN" terminal 22 of the 1.sup.st loop
connection. This is an analog signal. This audio transmission is
maintained between the extension station of the PBX trunk 12 and the PSAP
15.
The CPU 30 further activates the alarm 18 and also operates alarm contacts
46, while the alarm 18 sounds continuously. The alarm 18 alerts the
on-site management personnel or security staff in the local facility that
an emergency phone call has been made by one of the extension stations
within the facility at the inception of the emergency phone call, and the
CPU 30 provides information about the extension station from which the
emergency phone call is made. The alarm 18 will continue to sound while
the display unit 36 displays the origin of the emergency phone call. The
on-site management personnel or security staff can monitor the emergency
phone call by listening on the handset 38. They may enter the conversation
by holding down a button (not shown).
The CPU 30 displays the origin of the emergency phone call on the display
unit 36 while searching the memory database 34 for information about the
extension station where the emergency phone call is made. The information
about the extension station is then transmitted over the modem 44 and the
2.sup.nd loop interface 42 through the "IN" terminal 26 of the 2.sup.nd
loop connection. The CPU 30 transmits the pertinent information, such as
the location of the extension station, direction to the location, physical
description of the location, and etc., through the telephone provider's
central office 14 to the PSAP 15. This is data.
A computer software program may be utilized to implement the functional and
logical operations of the present invention process on the present
invention emergency interfacing device. The detailed definitions, modules,
routines and instructions of the computer program may depend on the
particular characteristics of the hardware equipment of the PBX trunk and
the CPU of the interfacing device, which can be derived by a skilled
computer software engineer or programmer according to the teachings of the
present invention.
Defined in detail, the present invention is an interfacing device for
connecting a telephone system to a call handling center which is in turn
connected to at least one public safety answering point (PSAP) for
providing information, the telephone system servicing a plurality of
extension stations within a local facility, the interfacing device
comprising: (a) PBX interface means for connecting to the telephone system
and receiving an emergency phone call from a specified one of the
plurality of extension stations which initiated the emergency phone call;
(b) a display unit for displaying information about the specified one of
the plurality of extension stations which initiated the emergency phone
call; (c) memory means for storing information on the plurality of
extension stations within the local facility; (d) 1.sup.st loop interface
means having a 1.sup.st loop connection for connecting to the call
handling center; (e) 2.sup.nd loop interface means having a 2.sup.nd loop
connection for also connecting to the call handling center; (f) a central
processing unit (CPU) connected to the PBX interface means, the display
unit, the memory means, the 1.sup.st loop interface means and the 2.sup.nd
loop interface means, and performing sequential logical operations; (g)
the CPU connecting the audio of the emergency phone call to the 1.sup.st
loop interface means which in turn transmits the audio through the call
handling center to the at least one PSAP through the 1.sup.st loop
connection; and (h) the CPU displayed the origin of the specified one of
the plurality of extension stations which initiated the emergency phone
call on the display unit while searching the memory means for information
about the specified one of the plurality of extension stations, the CPU
sends the extended station information through the call handling center to
the at least one PSAP over a modem which is in turn connected to the
2.sup.nd loop interface means while maintaining contact between the
specified one of the plurality of extension stations which initiated the
emergency phone call and the at least one PSAP; (i) whereby when the
emergency phone call is initiated from the specified one of the plurality
of extension stations within the telephone system in the local facility,
the interfacing device can transmit extended station information of the
extension station through the call handling center to the at least one
PSAP, and also alert on-site personnel or security staff in the local
facility that an emergency phone call has been initiated by one of the
extension stations within the facility at the inception of the call.
Defined broadly, the present invention is an interfacing device for
connecting a telephone system to a call handling center which is in turn
connected to at least one public safety answering point (PSAP), the
telephone system servicing a plurality of extension stations within a
local facility, the interfacing device comprising: (a) PBX interface means
for connecting to the telephone system and receiving an emergency call
from a specified one of the plurality of extension stations which
initiated the emergency call; (b) memory means for storing information on
the plurality of extension stations within the local facility; (c) first
interface means for connecting to the call handling center; (d) second
interface means for also connecting to the call handling center; (e) a
central processing unit (CPU) connected to the PBX interface means, the
memory means, the first interface means and the second interface means,
and performing sequential logical operations; (f) the CPU connecting the
audio of the emergency call to the first interface means which in turn
transmits the audio through the call handling center to the at least one
PSAP; and (g) the CPU searching the memory means for information about the
specified one of the plurality of extension stations which initiated the
emergency call, the CPU sends the extended station information through the
call handling center to the at least one PSAP over transmitting means
which is in turn connected to the second interface means while maintaining
contact between the specified one of the plurality of extension stations
which initiated the emergency phone call and the at least one PSAP; (h)
whereby when the emergency call is initiated from the specified one of the
plurality of extension stations within the telephone system in the local
facility, the interfacing device can transmit extended station information
of the extension station through the call handling center to the at least
one PSAP, and also alert on-site personnel or security staff in the local
facility that an emergency phone call has been initiated by one of the
extension stations within the facility at the inception of the call.
Defined more broadly, the present invention is an apparatus for connecting
a telephone system to a call handling center which is in turn connected to
at least one public safety answering point (PSAP), the telephone system
servicing a plurality of extension stations within a facility, the
apparatus comprising: (a) means for sensing and receiving an emergency
call from a specified station within the telephone system, which initiated
the emergency call; (b) means for storing extended station information
about the plurality of extension stations within the telephone system; (c)
means for transmitting the emergency call from the specified station
through the call handling center to the at least one PSAP; and (d)
controller means searching the storing means for the extended station
information about the specified station, and transmitting the extended
station information of the specified station through the call handling
center to the at least one PSAP from second transmitting means while
maintaining contact between the specified station, which initiated the
emergency call and the at least one PSAP; (e) whereby when an emergency
call is initiated from the specified station within the telephone system
in the facility, the apparatus can transmit the extended station
information through the call handling center to the at least one PSAP, and
also alert on-site personnel or security staff in the facility that an
emergency call has been initiated by one of the extension stations within
the facility at the inception of the call.
Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any
particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment disclosed
herein, or any specific use, since the same may be modified in various
particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the
claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus
shown is intended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operative
embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in
which the present invention might be embodied or operated.
The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to
comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of at
least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended
in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present
invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.
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